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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, 
Agricultural Experiment Station. 


CHAMPAIGN, NOVEMBER, 1888. 


BULLETIN NO. 3. 


FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN OATS, 1888. 


Experiment No. 12.* Oats: Quantity of Seed Per Acre. 


Seven contiguous plats, each two by four rods, were sown broadcast 
April 5th, at the rate of from one to four bushels per acre. The seed 
was sown on fall-plowed land, covered by use of a disk harrow and twice 
harrowing. The field notes show that the oats came up evenly and well; 
that they headed evenly June 18th to 21st; that they were blown flat by 
a storm July roth. July 18th and roth they were mowed and bound. 
At this time the straw, leaves, and glumes were mostly yellow and dry. 
Those on plats 1 and 2, on which the least quantities of seed were sown, 
were slightly greener than the others. These plats also, especially plat 1, 
contained more weeds. The crop was threshed July 26th and 27th, that 
from plats 5, 6, and 7 after a slight shower and when somewhat damp. 

The following table gives yield of grain and straw per plat, and cal- 
culated yield per acre: 


TABLE SHOWING SEED SOWN: YIELD OF GRAIN AND OF STRAW. 


! 


Pl Quantity. | Grain, Grain Straw Straw 

oe per whey bu. | Per plat, tb. | per acre, bu. | per plat, tb. | per acre, tb. 
} ? | ’ 
rants) 2 i SE ULE tana A ce a Rr po Cae SANS 

I 84 52.5 IgI 3820 
2 1.5 95 59-4 220 4400 
3 2 98 61.3 227 4540 
4 2.5 102 63.8 243 
5 3 99 61.9 261 5220 
6 3-5 100 62.5 220 4400 
7 ier 97 60.6 213 4260 


* The numbers given to these experiments are those which they bear in the records 
of the Station. (See pp. 11 and 12, Bulletin No. 1.) 


26 BULLETIN NO. 3. ; [ Movember, 


Experiment No. 13. Oats: Compact or Loose Seed Bed. 


Three plats, each two by four rods, were sown broadcast, April 6th, 
at the rate of two and one-half bushels per acre. 

In plat 1, the oats were sown on fail-plowed land, and lightly covered 
with a disk harrow. The land was then rolled with a heavy garden roller 
and afterwards harrowed. 

Plat 2 was cultivated with a disk harrow before sowing; the oats 
were covered by disking once and once harrowing. 

Plat 3 was disked three times before sowing, once afterward, and then 
harrowed. < 

The oats came up evenly and ripened at the same time. They were 
harvested July 19th and threshed July 27th to 28th. 

The following table gives the yield of grain per plat in pounds, and 
calculated yield per acre in bushels, with yield of straw per plat and per 
acre in pounds: 


TABLE SHOWING CONDITION OF SEED BED; YIELD OF GRAIN AND OF STRAW. 


: * Grain Grain Straw Straw, 
Plat. See ben per plat, ib. | per acre, bu. | per plat, tb. per acre, tb. 
Big Compact. etsy ss. 5 96 60 209 4180 
9 | Medium loose..... 106 66.3 269 5380 


seeOu 1 Very 16086. oa. 5 97 60.6 223 4460 


Experiment No. tg. Oats: Time of Sowing. 


Four adjacent plats, each two by four rods, were sown broadcast, at 
the rate of two and one-half bushels per acre, at intervals of one week, 
from April 6th to April 27. -In each case the oats were sown on fall- 
plowed land, and were covered by use of a disk harrow and the common 
tooth harrow. ; 

The plants fairly covered the ground on plat 1 in nineteen days after 
sowing; on plat 2 in fourteen days; plat 3 in ten to twelve days; and on 
plat 4 in ten days. 

The oats on plat 1 headed three days earlier than those on plat 2, 
and eleven days earlier than those on plats 3 and 4. The oats on plats 1° 
and 2 ripened nearly at the same time. They were mowed and bound 
July 2oth, plat 1 being a little the riper. Plats 3 and 4 were harvested 
three days later, when at about the same stage of ripeness as plat 1 was 
when cut. 

The following table gives the yield of grain per plat in pounds, the 
calculated yield per acre in bushels, and the yield of straw per plat and 
per acre in pounds: 


’ 


1888.] 


_ FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN OATS. 


27 


TABLE SHOWING DATE OF SOWING AND YIELD OF GRAIN AND STRAW. 


| 
» Pier ) Date Grain Grain, Straw, Straw, 
; | of Sowing. | per plat, tb. | per acre, bu. | per plat, tb. | per acre, tb. 
II ‘April 6, 1888 106 66.3 254 5080 
12 ‘April 13, 1888 gt aoe 251 5020 
13 April 20, 1888 78 48. 252 5040 
14 April 27, 1888 79 49-4 251 5020 
: Experiment No. 15. Oats: Depth of Sowing. 


Sixty selected kernels were sown in each of twelve rows, ten feet 
long. The first two rows were covered one inch deep; and each succeed- 
‘ing two rows one inch deeper, rows 11 and 12 being covered with six 
inches of earth. 
The number of plants growing in each row at various dates is shown 
by the following table: 


TABLE SHOWING NUMBER OF PLANTS GROWING AT GIVEN DATES. 


| 
Row. I Sy eg Pe 6 | PER Pg | ster higee hoes 

* | 
| one | hee oath 
Waves isi: 12 | 0 I oe ee = go M+ al te oh Ue Om Mea « bal WA 8 oe, 
MAG Seo, ons, 8 20h g ae Os! a5 33 ep ard Ol Oo Poet ve 
MaRS Oe eRe 34 |-25-|}.30 | 15 | 430145 | 52 | 48 | 18 | 18 6 5 
IVE OND oh i Sitios akan B22 53 he Shek SS SS | 56 | 52 |-42 | 37.| 26 | 22 
SEY 9 Soa ee cease so | 58 | 55 | 57 | 53 | 54 56 | 53 | 42 |} 36 | 30 | 23 
OPTICS pd ce ratone iy ccae’ «2 45 | 58 | 56/1 58 | 54 | 55 | 52. | 51 | 39 | 33 | 31% | 26 
PuRSeeas Scare 4t | 51 | 46 | 53 | 46 | 48 | 46 | 46 38 | 31 | 30 | 20 


The size and the apparent vigor of the plants in the rows was in the 
following order: First, rows 5 and 6; second, rows 3, 4, 7, and 8; third, 
rows 1 and 2; fourth, rows 9 and 10; fifth, rows 11 and 12. 

The oats in rows 1 to 8 inclusive were fully headed July 6th; those 
in rows g and 10, less fully; and those in rows 11 and 12, still less. 

The following table gives the yield of grain and of grain and straw 
in ounces, the number of plants and heads per row, and the number of 
heads per plant or stool in each row: 


TABLE SHOWING YIELD OF GRAIN AND OF STRAW; NUMBER OF STOOLS 
AND OF HEADS. 


: | Ounces of straw | No. of | No. of Heads 
vata Brees OF gee ly and grain. : stools. | heads. per stool. 
abe 

I . 5: 35. | 4! 341 | 8.3 
a 4- 22. 51 225 4:4 
3 4.5 26. 46 265 5.8 
4 3:5 20. 53 230 4-3 
5 4-5 22. 46 217 4-7 
6 5:5 26. 48 248 | 5.2 
7 4.5 24. 46 239 5-2 
8 5. 24. 46 230 ce 

9 4-5 22: 38 222 38 
10 3-5 235 31 259 “4 
II 2.5 als 3Q, | 240 8. 

actos 3. 20. Pas SO 205 | 10.3 


28 BULLETIN NO. 3. [Movember, 


OBSERVATIONS UPON GERMINATION AND STOOLING. 


The fourteen plats used in these experiments were adjacent to each 
other. On each of these the number of plants growing on a given area, 
the proportion of seeds capable of germinating estimated to be sown, 
the number of plants growing under the different conditions of the plats, 
and the number of culms per plat or stool was ascertained. 

The number of kernels in an ounce of the variety of oats sown was 
found to be 1,044. From this basis, the rate of seeding of each plat 
being known, the average number of kernels sown on 1-10,000 of an acre 
was computed. | ; 

The percentage of seeds capable of germinating under favorable con- 
ditions was found to be 87. The average number capable of germinating 
on I-10,000 of an acre was computed for each plat. 

; The average number of plants growing May 11th on t-10,000 of an 
acre in each plat was approximately determined by counting the number 
of plants found within a frame enclosing this area, the frame being placed 
at four equidistant points along the middle line of each plat. In a sim- 
ilar manner the number of stubs was ascertained after harvest. The 
average number of straws harvested, for each plant growing on May 11th, 
was thus ascertained. 

The following table summarizes the results: 

TABLE SHOWING FOR I-10,000 ACRE, AVERAGE NUMBER OF SEEDS SOWN; 
AVERAGE NUMBER CAPABLE OF GERMINATING; AVERAGE NUMBER OF 
PLANTS; AVERAGE NUMBER OF STUBS. ALSO PER CENT. OF SEEDS 
CAPABLE OF. GERMINATING FROM WHICH PLANTS GREW, AND AVER- 
AGE NUMBER OF STRAWS. FOR EACH STOOL. 


> > > > ae "3 
Bos 8 Bas ons Bg Mees ee 
— ig al : — Lad = oO | a4 
es | tea | 728) G8 | 4eee 
Si 2S" eBoy 
re oS | eee 5 3 2S ea | age 
Son Sg os o Sem | sp 2 
O38 _s o@ . ee RAs 
ee ee a 82 2 Hoa ® °F 
I 53 46 28 85 61 3 
2 70 45 105 64 2.3 
3 107 | 93 52 117 56 2.2 
4 133 116 67 102 58 1.5 
5 160 139 86 135 62 1.6 
6 187 163 85 123 | 52 1.5 
7 245%) 186 93 135 | 50 15 
8 133 116 62 116 54 1.9 
9 133 J16 60 ELEQS 52 1.6 
Io 133 116 61 122 53 2: 
II 133 | 116 58 114 | 50 2 
12 133 116 57 JII 49 2. 
13 133 116 54 88 ae am 1.6 
14 133 | 116 55 III 47 2 


This table shows that when the oats were sown at varying rates, of 
from one to four bushels per acre, there should have been from 53 to 214 


1888. FIELD EXPERIMENTS IN OATS. 2 
9 


seeds sown on I-10,000 of an acre (about 4.4 sq. ft.). Since 87 per cent. 
of similar seed germinated under favorable conditions, from 46 to 186 of 
these seeds were capable of germinating. Four weeks after sowing, from 
28 to 93 plants were found growing in 1-10,000 of an acre in these plats; 
that is, from 50 to 64 per cent. of the seeds capable of germinating pro- 
duced plants. In general, the larger proportion grew where the seeding 
was thinnest, although there were marked exceptions. 

On eight plats, each sown at the rate of two and one-half buithels per 
acre, 51 per cent. of the seeds capable of germinating gave plants, or 44 
per cent. of the seeds sown. 

The average number of plants at harvest on 1-10,000 of an acre, on 
plats sown with different quantities of seed, varied from 85 to 135, or 
from about 20 to 30 per square foot. 

At harvest the number of stalks was from 1.5 to 3.3 times the number 
of plants growing May 11th, on the plats sown at the rate of two and one- 
half bushels per acre; the average number of stalks was a little less than 
two from each plant or stool. Not all the plants counted May 11th came 
to maturity. 

SUMMARY. 

The trial was made in 1888, a season favorable for the oat crop in 
central Illinois, except for injury by a violent storm July roth. The soil 
was a prairie loam of good quality, and the land had been manured and 
plowed the autumn previous. The plats were small, generally one-fortieth 
of an acre. 

Welcome oats, a white variety of good reputation, were used in each 
experiment. 

The rate of yield per acre of oats sown broadcast, at rates varying 
from one to four bushels per acre, varied from 52.5 bushels from sowing 
one bushel, to nearly 64 bushels from sowing two and one-half bushels 
peracre. There was but little variation in the plats sown at rates varying 
from two to three and one-half bushels per acre. The largest yield in any 
trial was at the rate of 66.3 bushels per acre, when two and one-half 
bushels had been sown per acre. The largest yield of straw was at the 
rate of 5,220 ih. per acre, when three bushels had been sown. 

With plats sown at intervals of one week from April 6th to April 
27th, with other conditions as nearly similar as possible, the earliest sow- 
ing gave a yield at the rate of 66.3 bushels per acre; about nine bushels 
more than from sowing one week later, and about seventeen bushels more 
than from either of the still later sowings. The yield of straw in each case 
was at the rate of about 5,000 tb. per acre. The later sowings came up 
more quickly and were but three days later in ripening. 

Of selected kernels planted in rows and covered at depths varying 
from one to six inches, the more shallow plantings came up first, headed 
first, and ripened a little the earliest. The largest yield was from seed 
covered three inches; the next, from that covered four inches; the next 

rom that covered one inch. 


30 BULLETIN NO. 3. [ Movember, 


Oats sown on a moderately loose seed bed yielded at the rate of 66.3 
bushels per acre, about six bushels more than when the seed bed was 
either more compact or very loose. The difference in yield of straw was 
still more directly in favor of the moderately loose seed bed. } 

Thirteen per cent. of the kernels of oats apparently of good quality 
and vitality failed to germinate under favorable conditions. In broadcast 
seeding in field plats, little more than 55 per cent. grew in any case, and 
an average of only 44 per cent. grew on eight plats. 

The average number of stalks in each stool was less than two in the 
broadcast seeding. 

Testing the vitality of oats designed for seed should be a common 
practice. With ordinary methods of field culture, probably less than one- 
half the kernels sown produce mature plants. 


a een 
+--+ 


GERMINATION OF GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. 


TESTS AND OBSERVATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH EXPERIMENTS NOS. 16-24. 


There are four things which may affect the stand which may be 
obtained from seed sown in ordinary farm practice: (1) the quality and 
quantity of the seed; (2) the condition of the seed bed; (3) the depth to 
which seed is sown; (4) the character of the season. This inquiry relates 
to the first of these conditions. 

The germinating power of grass and clover seeds is manifestly as 
important as that of corn; but while an insufficient stand of corn is 
usually attributed to poor seed, a like trouble with grasses and clovers is 
commonly charged to the character of the season. 

The Station obtained from a reputable seedsman seeds of nineteen 
varieties of grasses and clovers. These, together with timothy and 
medium clover seed of home growth, were sown for purposes of experi- 
ment, such as comparison of varieties on small areas; growing on large 
areas for making feeding tests of varieties and mixtures; and sowing vari- 
eties with and without grain. 

In this case it was not practicable to test the germinating power of 
varieties before sowing them; but samples were preserved and a test 
made, beginning June 2oth, with the Geneva germinating apparatus 
invented at the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, to the 
officers of which this Station is indebted for a model of the apparatus. 

It consists of a pan made of tinned copper, 9x14 inches, and 3 inches 
deep, in which are folded two pieces of cotton flannel so as to make 50 
pockets. The pockets are held in place by an equal number of copper 
rods resting on a shoulder around the inside of the pan, a little below the 
top. Care is taken to have all the pockets of the same depth, so that the 
water may be so put into the pan as just to touch the bottom of each. 
The pan is covered with a plate of glass and a place is made for the recep- 
tion of athermometer. This makes it possible to keep the seeds under 


Sl “fs 
meting = LS a tS 
S22 OS 24 Oo 8 
res Co} S TABLE SHOWING GE 
6 oS a s & g - sERMINATION OF GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS; AS TESTED IN GENEVA 
+ 3s + OD 
5 ge ae I 2 » GERMINATING APPARATUS. 
<D) EE a a SE RTA ee Be ee! eet 
s sea i§e8ees wie Z 
eee coe oe Race 
eee ie on ay | wy i hc Be 
ee 8 Og SOL FSS sislslsisisie!2!S1a1 Fz 
oe ea be = BIRISIBIEILEI EIS ISI ElSi9 |) gi) si = 
Q a OS oOo. 35 vi xyirni» 9 Poa Bie BP wo | 4\e| alo 
Soe ot Sse § SISISIS [P| AMS Sl oi PIS| Cl sl ale 
ee | Foe sy 8 oy See en | 
ee a eee en lm Fle 
2) vo] Se el 2 Rlgee peBlice lenblocolen tied ax olsasle. clues me ay Pa ea 
o.|US .o 6 3 TEMPERATURE, FAHRENHEIT. Olan Olmec 
z § 3 < s = be s fers ’ EIT 76 75°75 72° 71° 77°|\80° 76°\73° 73° 77° 76° 
She Ad > aig & 1 | Orchard ‘D, : eS a eS 
= 3 sf oO wo rchard grass (. actylis glomerata) icici occ ben lk I9 | 20 
A - S = 2 ag 4 3 2| Timothy (Phleum pratense).......... whereby Gorn, Swimmers ie 14 : : ; 3 B 3| 4/9} 0] 0} 0 | 46) 60 
= 3 1 @ o cj i EA 3 Perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne)............... 40 | I9 3 8 2 @ 5 rol hd sod PE at 
a 2 8 Pos y on 2 o 4| Italian rye grass (Lolium [talicum)....... 0.00 eee ee 23| 71 114 5 ololo ns | a ee Pereee 
n ° g Se ne &S 5 | Tall meadow oat grass (Arrhenatherum avenaceum) . 91%) Tt] oO} 1 13r) 39 
4 =I v epee. 6! Vell : 54) 3} 3} 9} 3)1] 1) 0] 4] 0] 0; 1] 0] 60/6 
Z 55 0 SOREL ellow oat grass (Avena florescens)... 0 6... eee Oo] Oo} Of o| o| 110 : 
2 os aoF $ o wm © | Z| Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis)................, 46|26| 810/16] o0l0 pee ire hed rt (ate d ee de eh i 
am oO I 2 a i E Ho 5 8 | Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)....... 2) 3; Of o; of O10 2 Ba Bed gd Bg 
5 7a = > Oo - are = a 9 | Kentucky blue grass (Poa pratensis)..........0..44. 0; O} oO] Oo] 0] 0 }-0 Ss otael oicaks 
: ° = pv ote ae = ¥ 10 | Rough-stalked meadow grass (Poa trivialis)........ Oprah 2 ax 6 | Ono ; Ae ae te Cae Maik ees Se 
2 8S FSF Sy = 5 |1!| Wood meadow grass (Poa Nemoralis).............. See lis a toto Ble el ted eke 
de ° = bo Oo 6H % ©, | 12/| Sheep’s fescue (Festuca ovina)........ EN ROE ates O| 21/18! 6 ; 2/1 Gan Rt Bed a 
ess es 5 eae ao = q 13 | Wood fescue (Festuca duriuscula)......... Re Stine 1} 28) 5] 7 : 210 “ oS had’ ete hooies 
ee BOOS a HS & | 14| Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis)...... 0.2... O} 2) O| 41} 0) of 1 Phere Cleats 
ay = 5 By tar eA Set aS Medium red clover (7rifolium pratense)............ 85; o| o| r}/olo|o!o 2 ape eek eth ek tg AS 
iis a) tow, 9 be = a & "> | 16| Mammoth red clover (7rifolium medium) ........ x-|95| O} O| OJ Of} Oj} Oo} o Bef OO) O41 B51 88 
ie A no} c= om) a s g nm | 17 Alsike clover She set ot TIPOPLAUME IT Moa city tees 87| o| rlo|o|o!ojo Bi pee Oe Red eae eS 96 
r= | eo S | 18] Crimson trefoil (77ifolium incarnatum) .. 2 dd Bd tcl oe fi 
é 5 aS wp eB OER Gs Whi TY OMUM UNCATHQALUMY) «eee eevee 4 Ij oj OJ O} OJ O| 9] O}| O| O o!|o 
as Be 22 3 2 eo we Ig ite clover ( Tif olitim FepEenMs) soos, ve ecvcs es ss JOA Ele 2 ONCOdS ES Oe 218° 
Ms a 6 oa Z ai oS, a 20 | Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)...... BUsie rasp area ete oe 4 A hanes Sh Bao Fal ia Oe SI | Fe ah pal (id Beat 28 
‘5 4s" 5090 8 gg Red-top (Agrostis vulgaris) ..... eat ey 4 0; 9; 0} 1/0); 3] 8 | 51) 64 
; = Peeae 5 ae BS isle’ Sonn ek A Mii ase pit en ee epee na eee Btelarets area SS 2}0/0/90/0};90] 0] 0] 0} 10] 9g | 41| 60 
5 7 wm 
2 SERS ie = a le a 
oe) eq asso 8 oO 
Meee be SETS oO SR 
oO a) “s O'; oA BS OW 
Ps 4 oO OMn uns BS A, 


32 : BULLETIN NO. 3. [ November, 

Of the twenty-one varieties of seed tested, an average of less than forty- 
two per cent. germinated during the first week. During the twelve follow- 
ing weeks about seven per cent. more germinated. The seeds of seven vari- 
eties, yellow oat grass, sweet vernal grass, Kentucky blue grass, rough- 
stalked meadow grass, meadow foxtail, and crimson trefoil, almost failed 
to germinate; not more than five per cent. in any ¢ase during the first 
week, and not more than eleven per cent. during the thirteen weeks, germi- 
nated. Of the seeds of six varieties, orchard grass, Italian rye grass, 
sheep’s fescue, wood fescue, alfalfa, and red-top, about forty per cent. 
germinated, on an average, during the first week, and nearly fourteen per 
cent. more in the succeeding twelve weeks. Of eight varieties, timothy, 
perennial rye grass, tall meadow oat grass, meadow fescue, medium red 
clover, mamoth red clover, alsike: clover, and white clover, a little more 
than seventy-seven per cent. germinated, on an average, during the first 
week, and about five per cent. more during the succeeding twelve weeks. 
The seeds of the first group were manifestly worthless; of the second, 
evidently of poor quality and impaired vitality; of the third, first class. 
The impaired vitality in the second was not only shown by the small 
percentage germinating, but by the slowness, fourteen per cent. germi- 
nating after the first week, while only five per cent. germinated after 
the first week in the third group. Grass seeds are necessarily lightly 
covered, and, therefore, easily injured by changes in the weather; hence 
it is of the greatest importance that they germinate quickly and vig- 
orously. 

It is hardly necessary to point out the obvious importance of testing 
the germinating power of seeds, illustrated by this simple experiment. 
Failure to obtain a stand not only involves present loss from direct out- 
lay in seed and labor, but future loss from partial non-use of land as well 
as the disorganization of any system of cropping. No one factor in 
western farming so effectively prevents a careful and systematic rotation 
of crops as does the failure to obtain a stand of grass or clover. 

It is an easy matter to test the vitality of grass and clover seeds, by 
placing a given number, say one hundred, of the variety to be tested, 
between woolen cloths moistened with water. Care should be taken to 
boil the cloths before using, to scald the plate or pan in which the cloths 
are laid, and to use only recently boiled water with which to moisten the 
cloths, in order to retard the growth of fungi, or moulding. Two or more 
cloths may first be laid upon the plate or pan, the seeds distributed upon 
the upper one and another cloth laid upon the seeds. Sufficient water 
should be applied to keep the cloths moist. A plate of glass laid over 
the plates or pans would add'to the efficiency of the device by retarding 
evaporation and protecting the interior from floating germs of fungi. At 
a temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, good seed should germinate 
in from a week to ten days. That seeds will germinate after being under 
such influence several weeks is plainly shown by the test herein reported; 
but seeds that do not respond in from seven to ten days under such fav- 


i , : ; 
1888.] | ‘GERMINATION OF GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. 33 


orable influences can be of little value when subjected to the vicissitudes 
of an ordinary seed bed. 

Having ascertained what percentage of the seeds in a given sample 
will germinate, we have yet to determine at what rate such seed must be 
sown in order to insure the desired stand of plants. 

As the next step, a gram of the seed of each variety of grass and 
clover, such as was sown, was taken and the number of seeds in it counted. 
Some weed seeds were found, and they were counted separately. The 
number of seeds in one pound of each variety of seed was then computed. 


The following table gives the number of seeds per gram and per 
pound thus found. The table gives also the number of seeds per pound 
(taken from Flint’s Grasses and Forage Plants, p. 271), as ascertained by 
Lawson, of Edinburgh; the rate at which seed was sown here per acre in 
pounds; the computed number of seeds sown per square foot; and the 
computed number of these capable of germinating under favorable con- 
ditions: 


TABLE SHOWING NUMBER OF GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS PER GRAM AND PER 
POUND; RATE OF SOWING; SEEDS SOWN PER SQUARE FOOT; GERMIN- 
ABLE SEEDS PER SQUARE FOOT. 


No. seeds | re eat ee Be oe kis eae 
per gram. 53 (S83 |o 8) 08 e808 
<7 Net joa) WU ee 7u8 
| Os Sak | |) SEIS OMS 
vi ae & "hf oo B va * © 
| o| | #2 | se2| See lgcee 
rg er @ So n| oO co 
5 moe Sols | SS | es | 81 32 |ge82 
* > Bah? er : a PS | Bie 
eo} Se ) eo Be ip Pee 
o| & | ay 0 tog g ys aoe 
; o 4.8.) .or8 oie: = a Sa & 
py Ne = ees o8 5 D Gaga 
fy SEAR RES Ah 5° og! og Say 
Pgs Bag ie a el a 
Ba HOTONATG < OV ASS 2.5.5 vig Sole, 0 de 1006} © 457,272) 640,000] 35 | 368 169 
PPMPMROLNY os iat ce othe ty 3127| 7 |1,421,363|1,184,000] 15 | 490 314 
3 |Perennial rye grass........... 539} © | 245,000! 250,000! 60 | 337 226 
4 |Italian rye grass............ 607| 0 | 275,909! 432,000) 60 | 380 118 
5 ;Tall meadow oat grass........ 3421 0 | 155,454} 336,000] 4o| 143 86 
6 |Yellow oat grass....... Pra orriis 2430} © |1,104,545)1,188,000) 30 | 761 ° 
7 \Meadow fescue............. 613| 1 | 278,637) 416,000 30 | I92 154 
8 [Sweet vernal grass........... 1406] 10 | 639,091|1,136,000) 30 | 440 22 
9 |Kentucky blue grass.......... 4807 | 12 |2,185,000|3,888,000; 40 | 2006 fe) 
10 |Rough-stalked meadow grass. .| 5982 | 0 |2,719,091/3,472,000) 30 | 1873 56 
11 |Wood meadow grass......... 4763 | § |2,165,000|2,768,000) 30 | 1491 45 
TAGISDEEP S TESCUES Foi. odio sa ieis oce'ee I7f 0 | 781,364/#,024,000} 30 | 539 210 
13 |Wood fescue’...-)....... eee ge Ce 1 | 867,272 30 | 507 203 
14 |Meadow foxtail.............. 2190| 5 | 995,454|1,216,000) 40 | 914 18 
15 |Medium red clover........... 801 2 | 364,091} 256,000] 10 84 71 
16 |Mammoth red clover......... 732 | 6 | 332,727} 256,000] 10 76 72 
17 |Alsike clover.:.............. 1490| 2 | 677,272 | 7e| 117 | 103 7 4’ 
58:\Crimson: trefoil... eet a ss 335 | 6] 152,272 | 10 | * 35 2%) 
eer MILE “CLOVER 2) 6.) is eidscsce «0747s pre I 4 | 863,181} 512,000 10 | 198 154 
PRA oo AS, ee SRA ROS 535 | © | 243,181} 203,600) Io 56 29 
MUON 5, oes seep harbiye eet t |4,135,909|7,800,000| 30 | 2849 | 1168 


It must be borne in mind that the number of seeds will vary some- 
what, often considerably, in samples from different lots of the same seed, 


v 
f 


\ € 
34 BULLETIN NO. 3. [Movember, 


and even in different samples from the same lot. Results, therefore, can. 
be taken, at best, as ‘approximations only. As computed, the average 
number of seeds per pound for the fifteen varieties of grasses was, in 
round numbers, 1,228,000. The variety containing the largest number 
of seeds per pound, 4,136,000, was red-top; the variety containing the 
least number, 155,000, was tall meadow oat grass. Kentucky blue grass 
contained 2,185,000; timothy, 1,421,000; and orchard grass, 457,000 seeds ; 
per pound. 

The average number of seeds per pound of the six varieties of legumi- 
nous plants (clovers and alfalfa), was 439,000; white clover contained the 
largest number, 863,000; crimson trefoil the least number, 152,000; mam- 
moth clover contained 364,000; medium clover, 333,000; alsike, 677,000; 
and alfalfa, 243,000 seeds per pound. 

Such large numbers convey but little meaning to the mind, except 

comparatively. When the numbers sown on a small area, as a square 
- foot, are considered, they are more easily comprehended. In the table, 
the rate of seeding is given in pounds per acre, and is the rate employed 
in the experiments above mentioned. From this, the average number of 
seeds per square foot may be computed. ; 

The average number of seeds sown per square foot, thus computed, 
was 892 for the fifteen varieties of grasses. The largest number was 2,849 
for red-top; the smallest number, 143, for tall meadow oat grass. The 
number of seeds of timothy was 490; of orchard grass, 368; and of Ken- 
tucky blue grass, 2,006. The average number of seeds sown per square 
foot for the six leguminous varieties was 94; the largest number, 198, for 
white clover; the least number, 35, for crimson trefoil. 

Assuming that the percentage germinating within a week in the test 
is the percentage capable of germinating under favorable conditions, the 
number per square foot capable of germinating under favorable condi- 
tions may be computed. Returning to the former grouping, the average 
number germinating in the first group would be 20; in the second, 317; 
in the third, 152. In the third, the average germinating power is nearly 
double that of the second, while there would be but half the number 
capable of germinating under favorable conditions on account of the 
smaller number of seeds sown. 

Notwithstanding the long-time discussion of the relative merits of 
thin and thick seeding, there are few exact data as to the proper amount 
of seed to be sown; the proportion between the amount capable of ger-— 
minating under favorable conditions and the amount germinating in an 
ordinary seed bed; or the number of plants per square foot necessary to 
constitute a good stand in meadows, in American farm practice. 

Probably from eight to twelve pounds per acre of timothy is usually 
sown, or from 250 to 400 seeds per square foot; and eight pounds per 
acre of medium clover, or about 70 seeds per square foot. In sowing a 
given variety, the number of seeds to be sown will depend largely upon 
the habits of growth of the plant and somewhat on the size of the seed; 


1888.] + ~+~+GERMINATION OF GRASS AND CLOVER SEEDS. 35 


for the larger the seed the greater the percentage of seeds that will be 
capable of resisting unfavorable conditions. 

Taking present practice as a guide,.it is probable that with those 
grasses whose, habits of growth are somewhat like timothy, such as 
orchard grass, the rye grasses, and the fescues, from 250 to 400 seeds 
should be sown. With grasses like red-top and Kentucky blue grass, 
more is-desirable. With-the clovers and alfalfa, from 50 to 100 seeds per 
square foot seems sufficient. 
Geo, E. Morrow, Agriculturist. 


T. F. Hunt, Assistant Agriculturist. 


All communications intended for the Station should be addressed, 
not to any person, but to the 


AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS. 
The bulletins of the Experiment Station will be sent free of all charges 


to persons engaged in farming who may request that they be sent. 


SELIM H. PEABODY, 
President Board of Direction. 


‘aah 


